spin the cube IT’S THAT OTHER MICHIGAN FIGHT SONG,
didn’t make sense after 1907. The words re-
“The song was a hit; encore after encore
the one that’s often played right before
ferred to the Western Conference, of which
was demanded.”
the iconic “The Victors.”
Michigan had been a charter member since
One hundred years ago this fall, “Varsi-
1896. But in 1907, angered over rule chang-
the conductor of the Michigan band.
ty” was written by Earl V. Moore (’12, M.A.
es for recruiting and eligibility, legendary
Dobos said Fischer immediately rec-
’16) and J. Fred Lawton (’11). It made its
football coach Fielding Yost took Michigan
ognized the attraction of “Varsity” and
debut on October 6, 1911, in front of 2,000
out of the Western Conference. The Wol-
agreed to play the song the next day for
students at University Hall to immediate
verines played as an independent for the
the Michigan-Case football game. The
acclaim.
next 10 years before rejoining what would
song was played at halftime of the Wol-
ultimately become the Big Ten.
verines’ 24–0 win.
And, for a time, it was the Michigan fight song.
Figuring Michigan needed a more con-
The Michigan Daily described ‘‘Varsity” as
That’s like saying Handel’s The Messiah
temporary fight song, Moore, who was
“stirring” and predicted it would be “one
is better known for, “Lift Up Your Heads,
studying in the School of Music (then a
of Michigan’s most popular songs.”
O Ye Gates,” rather than the rousing
private Ann Arbor conservatory), and
“Hallelujah” chorus, but “Varsity” is the
Lawton put their heads together.
song that fans heard at Michigan athletic events in the 1910s. “It should be remembered that in 1911
“It’s a great tune,” says Carl Grapentine, who is entering his 42nd year as the voice
Dobos said that while looking at an ad-
of the Michigan band at football games.
vertisement posted on a streetcar, Lawton
“Most schools would be happy to have it
was inspired for a verse:
as their fight song. But Michigan has ‘the
‘The Victors’ did not occupy the pride of
“Varsity, we’re for you.
greatest college fight song ever written,’
place that is has today,” says Joseph Dobos
Here for you to cheer for you.
according to John Philip Sousa. Just an
(U-M ’71), a longtime historian of Michigan
We have no fear for you, Varsity!”
embarrassment of riches, I guess.”
music matters. “From 1900 until around 1909, it had disappeared from campus. “It could be found on piano sheet music, but it was not played by the University
Once they reached their streetcar stop
“The Victors” began being used again
near Lawton’s house, they rushed inside
when Michigan returned to the Western
to give birth to their creation.
Conference in 1917, and by the 1920s it was
“When the song was finished [Lawton
being played more often than “Varsity.”
band at football games and rallies. The
and Moore] played it over and over [on
two most revered campus songs at the
the piano], and Lawton’s family came
of “Varsity.” Unlike “The Victors,” which
time were ‘Yellow and Blue’ and ‘Hot
to listen,” Dobos wrote in “The Story of
has a melody similar to “The Spirit of
Time in the Old Town Tonight’ [with spe-
Varsity,” a short article for the Michigan
Liberty March,” by George Rosenberg,
cial Michigan lyrics].”
Band Alumni Association. “Soon the
“Varsity” is a wholly original tune.
Also, Louis Elbel’s final lyrics to “The Victors,” (“the champions of the West”)
whole family was marching arm in arm, singing the chorus of ‘Varsity.’’’ “Varsity” went public a few days later for the weekly Friday night mass meeting
(PREVIOUS PAGE) “Varsity” creators Earl V.
Moore and J. Fred Lawton sing their beloved tune on its 25th anniversary. (BELOW) Kickoff of the 1912 Michigan-
Cornell Game at Ferry Field, where “Varsity,” instead of “The Victors,” would have been featured as the Michigan fight song.
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Also on hand was Eugene “Ike” Fischer,
LSA Magazine / FALL 2011
at University Hall. “As Moore played the opening syncopated chords of ‘Varsity,’ from the console of
But that doesn’t diminish the legitimacy
“Out of the dozens of Michigan songs that were written between 1890 and 1920,” Dobos says, “‘Varsity’ survived and is still revered.” n WATCH THE U-M MEN'S GLEE CLUB SING “VARSITY” AND “HAIL TO THE VICTORS” www.lsa.umich.edu/alumni/wire
the Frieze Memorial Organ, the assembled throng roared its approval,” Dobos wrote.
PHOTO Courtesy of Bentley Historical Library